Lancaster County approves $1.744 million for farmland conservation easements

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28 adopted Resolution No. 5 of 2026, appropriating $1,744,686 for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements in Fiscal Year 2026. The appropriation includes $1,500,000 of new county funds, $112,016 of Clean & Green rollback tax interest and $132,670 of local government funds.

The resolution states that $30,000 of Clean & Green rollback tax interest will be used to monitor and enforce conservation easements and to cover legal costs associated with defending easements, as permitted by Act 46 of 2006. The resolution also awards $250,000 from the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund (established by Act 13 of 2012) as a 50% matching challenge grant to Lancaster Farmland Trust to permanently preserve farmland consistent with the county comprehensive plan (places2040).

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the resolution. Jeb Musser, vice president of land protection at Lancaster Farmland Trust, and Matt Knepper, director of the Agricultural Preserve Board, addressed a question from Pastor Joel Saint about whether property owners receive tax breaks when land is placed in a farmland trust and provided clarifying remarks recorded in the minutes.

The resolution notes funds are available as of Jan. 1, 2026, and that unexpended funds through Dec. 31, 2027, will remain available for the same purpose, citing the Agricultural Area Security Law (Act of June 30, 1981, P.L. 128, No. 43) as authority. The board’s adoption is recorded in the minutes as unanimous.